The horribuck body isn't exactly the same as the last time Alptraum wore it.. but that was in Magog's Hell. This time it's back to its normal, less monstrous size. He's also not charged up yet, as things are a bit loose and gaping between his legs, making him technically in female mode. The drones are literally abuzz and restless in the hive, and the Queen is gesturing for him to approach her throne.
The strange lapi-creature doesn't remember how he got here. He had been talking with Gorphat about the things to come ... and the next thing he knows is he's standing here, feeling a right mess. The queen's gesture makes him terribly uncomfortable, yet he starts towards it. His more insect aspects acknowledge this creature as his queen and he cannot disobey it, no mater how terrified he feels. He also covers his lower, well, hole with this hands!
"Tch tch tch," the Queen clacks in a chiding manner. She grabs onto the horribuck with her multiple arms, and hugs him to her. "Handzz" she hisses.
Horribuck's ears twitch at that, and at this point he's shivering due to adrenaline rush from fear. His hands are shaky, but he does slowly pull them away from his, well, not sure what it really is!
The Queen's soft parts flex and attach to the horribuck's orifice, and she is soon pumping small, wiggly larvae into him. As his brood-pouch (formerly scrotum) begins to fill, she also pulls his head down to chest and pale breasts. "Zzzuck," she instructs.
Horribuck goes glurk! There's a new and rather unnatural sensation. It's like Nicora and squirminess below, only a lot bigger and they ... pulsate. "How ... why ... how can I be doing this!?!?" the mutant lapi thinks, eyes wide as he's forced to stare at strange breasts. Toes wiggle, then his jaws part and he draws in a nipple to suckle on. Something about being part insect means he cannot disobey the queen.
It isn't milk that flows, but something more hormonal tasting. And there's a lot of it, so it probably serves a special purpose. The hybrid can feel it fill his stomach, only to drain out nearly as fast and cause his guts to squirm a bit. The weight and volume between his thighs starts to become awkward, but the Queen doesn't seem to be slowing down on her production. Soon, the horribucks own breasts begin to ache.
The weight between his legs is downright uncomfortable, as is breast ache. That sign he at least knows what it means; he'll be very, ah, milky soon enough! As for the gut squirm, he doesn't understand that at all. What would cause that? Why would it happen? He has to shift his legs out a bit now too, to accommodate, well, the impressive mass that keeps expanding there.
Lapi legs are sturdy at least! But things are still being stretched, and the squirming doesn't help. Finally the Queen's pumping stops, both below and above as her 'milk' stops. She starts to push the horribuck away now, but there's still some connection at the bottom that wasn't there before.
The buck blinks repeatedly as he tries to clear his head. He takes a deep breath, then tries to step back and away, in spite of the connection down below. Granted he has to walk extremely bow-legged and it's awkward, but he tries.
There's finally a disconnect, and more squirming as the new parts align themselves. There are now six tentacles attached to the horribuck's groin instead of the usual four 'temporary' ones. While four of them do line up to make a phallus, the extra two are brawnier, with wide, flattened tips that look made for grasping.
"That is different," Horribuck admits ... right before he pokes at the extra two, to see if they move on their own ... or he controls them.
They try to grab onto his finger.. without his control. Like most things that attach in that area, they have minds of their own!
The buck pulls his finger away! He sighs, shakes his head, and checks his gut now. That stuff went down rather fast, after all!
From the added sensations of swirling, he can tell that it's all funneling into the larvae sack. Several of the drones fly out of the Lair now, buzzing loudly.
The buck then pokes at that huge thing. How is he going to walk with this? Well, that is answered soon enough as he turns and tries to follow those drones. Walking is ... slow, and very, very, bow-legged.
"Dud-a-chack," Brutus clacks, moving to block the entrance! Apparently the horribuck isn't supposed to walk. There are some shocked screems and yelps in the distance, and the buzzing of the drones become louder as they already start their return to the Lair. Brutus has to move aside then, since the returning drones are carrying naked, paralyzed Skreek woman with them.
Horribuck blinkblinks repeatedly. Oh! They're bringing the women in here for this. He scratches lamely at one ear as he shuffles backward to make room. He feels sorry for the skreek and the others 'waiting'; they had little to now warning!
The drones do their best to position the Skreek. It seems the only thing she has control over are her eyes. "Dud-a-chick," Brutus clacks, and the drones spread the woman out, and also tilt her neck and head forward. The horribuck can feel some of that breast-fluid oozing out along the seams of his new phallus now as well.
Horribuck wasn't exactly told what to do, but he can make an awkward guess! He shuffles forward to the spread rat and without much ceremony, he starts pushing his odd flesh into the rat's waiting gate. He also leans forward and presses one of his aching breasts up to the lips of the rat. Balancing on one hand, he uses the other hand to massage that breast as he tries to milk himself into her jaws like some sort of livestock.
The oozing fluid acts as a lubricant, thankfully, and probably has other effects to help prepare the host. Once the Skreek is able to start nursing on her own (for the most part.. the drones are still massaging her throat) it feels very good. The Skreek's initial fear aura seems to fade slightly once things really get going. But the horribuck has to be careful not to drag the sensitive larvae sack too much against the floor.
The Horribuck keeps movements short and simple so that there is no dragging at all. Chafing down there would be terribly unpleasant, after all! "Well, this isn't so bad," he thinks, though he doesn't feel a whole lot of it save for the nursing ... which does help with the ache at least! He also tries to smile to the skreek to reassure her everything is okay.
The Skreek seems to have a mixed reaction to the smile. She's likely never seen a Lapi before, but the buck teeth should be familiar enough. Her eyes go wide, and she actually begins to move a bit more on her own. The paralytic must have just been to get her into the Lair.
Once her hips start to move, however, the extra pair of tentacles grab onto her thighs to make sure nothing slips out.
The horribuck holds onto the rat gently and even mutters to her to to try and keep her calm. Well, as calm as being diddled by a monster a rat can be, anyway. He hopes the tentacle grab doesn't cause her to freak out! Granted, he's trying to not freak out too...
The Skreek doesn't seem to mind.. if anything she becomes a bit more energetic, until she's clearly making love right back at the horribuck. It isn't likely due to attraction though, but to whatever the Queen filled him up with to make things easier. The rat's eyes aren't quite focused, so there's not telling what's going on in her mind, but she suckles harder as she goes.
Horribuck then realizes the rat is probably rather drugged and is probably not thinking too much about what might come out of a monster and into her! Granted, he's afraid of it too, but he at least kind of knows what will happen. So, he tries to not be too nervous about things and instead just tries to enjoy the rat!
The rat enjoys it too, and is vocal about it (but not with any sort of coherence). It's about that an Eeee is led in by the drones, unparalyzed. She kneels down and watches with an uncertain expression. The extra (if careful) effort from the horribuck brings his end to a conclusion, as his phallus splits open inside of the Skreek in order to pass the larva. As it was in Hell, the experience is extremely pleasurable for him, but is just starting for the Skreek, who moans and writhes in ecstasy as the larva wiggles deeper into her.
The horribuck is fairly sure the larva won't eat her alive. Not a great way to add followers if it did, after all! Also, he doesn't have that much time to think about it because he's awash in the animalistic pleasures of breeding, and all the hormones that comes with. And making it worse in the insect instinct to breed a lot combining with the similar lapi drive. He's moaning now too, though it has an odd insect-y buzz to it, due to changes to his throat as part of his being adopted into the hive.
The clasper tentacles let go, and the drones carry away the Skreek before the horribuck can pull out on his own. But the Eeee is there, looking a bit woozy just from being in the same room. The air is likely thick with pheromones and whatever else the Queen might be putting out, along with the hypnotic thrum of horrib wings.
The buck thrumms at the Eeee as he tries to position the lady onto the makeshift mating bed/altar. Before he even knows it, he's inside the Eeee too and guiding her to nurse upon him! "/Do I even control myself anymore?/" the hybrid wonders. His body is responding like any insect drone would, and he's obeying the queen without question.
The Eeee is plenty eager at this point, and being a bit narrow-hipped having the extra tentacles to keep her legs spread is handy, since it frees up the horribuck's hands. Those at least are firmly in his control! This time it's only at the half-way point that the drones bring in two more Skreeks to wait their turn.
The Eeee get s extra-special treatment, including a lot of breast massage, and even the occasional nursing from him when she lets up on him. He still has to watch his movements and keep them short and rapid so as to avoid any scraping and chafing down below. The buck also decides that fretting over it is pointless since he'll do it anyway ... so he goes with the flow.
This time it feels even better.. partly because of the realization that each implantation reduces his weight burden! As before, his partner's peak keeps on going thanks to the larva wiggling inside of her. It also seems to encourage the Skreeks, who approach the horribuck on their own.
The horribuck realizes they probably don't really know what they're in for and about to have worming their way into them. Still, not his problem, but his duty, right? The next Skreek is draws up, and the buck, making pretty much just insect-sounds now, is soon impaling her! He then gets that skreek to nurse on him too ... and also gestures the other skreek to nurse on his other teat! Hey, it helps with the ache, after all.
This causes some confusion with the grabber-tentacles, so each Skreek is grabbed onto by one of them. Once the first one has been dealt with, the second Skreek actually urges the horribuck onto his back.
The buck doesn't complain! His lower back is getting a little sore ... so lying down is a good thing! It's also good he doesn't have horrib wings. Well, yet, anyway.
The woman starts by licking his ovipositor, which causes lots of tingles, before she starts to really ride him. She even kisses him! The drones either can't count, have a terrible sense of timing or are just overly excited as they keep droving Eeee and Skreek initiates into the lair.. but at this point they're probably just coming on their own to find out what's going on. Two Eeee girls dare to nurse on the horribuck while the Skreek is still bouncing in his lap. It may be the milk that causes the euphoric effect.
The horribuck isn't complaining yet! This is like a lapi dream come true, endless women! Now he's writhing about as he takes the skreek and pets the back of the heads of the Eeee nursing on him! Being some horrible insect-monster doesn't seem so bad, now! And at least he doesn't have compound eyes, a random sort of thought, but hey, it's an odd moment in an unbelievable situation. He hasn't even thought about the fact he really is more of a girl at the moment, given he has larvae, and an ovipositor, after all. Even a stinger, though he doesn't need it.
Just because he doesn't need it, doesn't mean it goes unused - by the women. Another Skreek is hugging it. An Eeee woman decides that the horribuck's mouth is being wasted when it could be warming her up. Someone sucks on his toes. It starts to blur together, such that he loses track of who is attached to which appendage until it seems like he's engaged with a single massive female with multiple everythings. And each implantation feels more intense than the previous one! The drones are playing an important part too.. carrying off the implanted women so they don't try and get a second helping. But the horribuck has no idea how long they're stuck in their rapture after being carried off.
The horribuck isn't even sure how much time is passing at this point. It's all buggy bliss at this point! He probably doesn't even know when there is a switch of women, all he feels is a lot of constant squirming down below as the larvae leave him one after another. The plus side to this will mean the weight will be less soon!
And as the weight lessens and things go from 'bloated and stretched' to 'less stretched' he's able to move a bit more freely, which is fine as some of the girls prefer to be on their hands and knees (usually a Skreek) with another girl on their back (always an Eeee). This frustrates the drones at times, since the horribuck can just switch to the one on top once the lower one is finished with - which also lets him know that the larvae keep the women moaning and squirming for quite some time. This only lasts until the Eeee run out though - there were only eight of them, verses a dozen Skreek girls.
One has to wonder why there weren't more Eeee, but then this is not a life that droves of people would choose! Thogh his current job isn't so bad! It's like a constant flow of low-grade pleasure in a disturbing sort of way. But then why wouldn't it be? Insuring reproduction means some sort of motivation. Granted it isn't him that's reproducing, he's more just a bridge. A grunting, lewd, buggy, bridge.
Near the end, the drones have worn out or given up on removing all of the implanted women. Now they buzz their wings to try and keep the Lair from overheating. The horribuck experiences a familiar disconnect with the last Skreek, who joins three others writhing on the floor around the hybrid - the lucky winner, since she gets the squirming larva plus the squirming phallus. The two grappler tentacles also detach.. and slither back towards the Queen like pale, unscaled serpents.
This makes the buck cry out! That hurts when it happens and the poor buck rolls to the side and cups where things used to be. "Ow," he thinks as some semblance of thought returns to him. It's a few minutes before he sits up and checks himself for damage.
There are some scrapes and spots where fur got mussed up, but none of the chitin plates have cracked, and his breasts aren't the worse for wear, aside from very noticeable stretch marks on the areolas. The fun sack is definitely deflated, however. And he's very, very damp from his shoulders to his knees. And then also the toes. His stingy is twitchy as well, and covered in fluids that did not come from him.
The horribuck pokes at his chest to see how tender things might be. He also realizes he desperately needs a bath! So, the buck tries to get to his feet and steady himself. IT's unnerving to realize that you are not quite a person anymore and can be instinct-driven when the time comes for it.
The entrance to the lair seems like a distant goal, with various still-writhing and moaning obstacles in the way. But, on the other appendage, he doesn't have to walk bow-legged. It's just that his legs and most of the rest of him is feeling a bit wooden now after all the exertion.
The buck starts towards the door, then finds himself stopping and turning around and going back to the Queen. In spite of himself, he actually nuzzles on her and coos.
"Did-a-chick," the Queen says. "Gudd.. gudd booey.." And she pats him on the back.
The buck actually reaches down and tries to stick part of the queen back into the hole between his legs. The buck is crazy, it seems.
"Nyet," the Queen says, and smiles, which is like a puzzle rearranging itself. "Zoon."
The buck actually pouts, then eases back and wobbles off. Slowly. He really does need to clean up.
"Wazh," the Queen says. Which seems odd, since horribs really shouldn't care about being sticky or smelly, as they live primarily off carrion.
The buck hobbles along towards the worm pool for a bath, as things there will at least help restore other parts. Nevermind it will make him smell like the inside of a dromodon-diaper.
At least there isn't any groin pain involved in the walk, but the horribuck was a bit hazy about the journey itself until he actually arrived. The glow from the pool is almost inviting, even if the slow churning is caused by large slimy worms.. which also supply most of the fluid for the pool itself.
And the smell is horrific, as usual! But, the buck is either used to it, resigned to it, or actually likes it. He wobbles up to the pool, then slides each foot into the pool as he sits on the edge. Then, he slides his entire body into the pool! Slime and fur feels odd, but it's warm and soothing, too. Especially for someone who is already a bit unhinged.
The worms begin their 'grooming', and of course the 'nubs' around the horribuck's orifice begin to capture some of them. It's soothing, and warm and relaxing at least. It even feels like the chitin plates soften. "The things we take comfort in," a female Eeee voice comments. "So varied."
This causes Horribuck to blink and look around for the source of that voice!
Alptraum finds himself in a bathtub filled with warm.. milk. Zakaro is resting her head on her forearm as it lies on the rim, and her other hand dips a finger into the milk to stir it a bit.
Alptraum rubs his forehead a bit, wondering if he's hallucinating. "Why are we in ... milk?" he asks hesitantly. "Are you preparing to eat me?"
"It's warm and a little slimy," Zakaro notes, and grins. "Bathing in milk is a tradition among noble women. I prefer strawberry milk myself though. And I figured you'd be the one to eat me.. eventually. I just had to see you.. for various reasons."
Alptraum's brow arches. "Eat you? Literally, or, er, sexually?" he has to ask. "Things have been non-stop busy. One horrible event after another."
"Horrible?" Zakaro asks. "Ah.. the undercover operation and the trial you mean?" The Goddess grins, and has a bit of food stuck in her teeth. On her it looks cute though. "Power always comes at a price, even if it isn't personal power. The power to change things, for instance."
"Yes, that was horrible. If you were more mortal, you'd know too," Alptraum points out as he ends up relaxing in the ... milk. "So ... what can I do for you?"
"Well, you're already doing it, if you can believe that," Zakara says. "Where do you think you are right now?" she asks. Even though to all appearances he's in a bathroom in a typical Babel tower. There isn't even a Rughrat around to explain where all the warm milk came from.
"In a rather odd bathtub full of milk in a room like many in the towers," Alptraum answers after he can't think of anything witter.
"Ah.. well, yes, something like that, but at a more basic level?" Zakaro asks. "Are you in My realm? A dream? Something else entirely?"
"Well, my first instinct would be your realm," Alptraum notes. "A place which you can interact freely."
"That would be the obvious choice, certainly," Zakaro says, "except that I have no realm. None of the Sisters do since the collapse of the great dream ritual. We don't have that power on our own."
"Okay, then this is just a dream," Alptraum follows up on. "Piggybacking on my abilities?"
"Hmmm.. a dream... well, that depends on what sort of dreams you are capable of, I suppose," Zakaro says. "Because in your dreams, physical changes can be real.. like tattoos. I'm not sure it is a dream."
Alptraum rubs his head slowly. "Well, then what is it?" he asks. "I'm confused."
Zakaro really grins now, and pinches Alptraum's cheeks! "It's something different, and you and I are going to find out just what it is! But I suspect it has to do with your triple nature: Eeee, Barsunala and.. Shadow? And maybe that interesting blade of yours as well. At least in part there is some element of bilocation involved.. and in others the creation of temporary realms of interaction. I just haven't figured out how they all weave together, or how others can tap into it without you being in conscious control of it. I think I'll call it.. hmm. Territory. That sounds good, don't you think?"
"I suspect the dagger has something to do with it. It's sort of a malleable, portable, er, universe?" Alptraum suggests while he rubs his pinched cheeks, ears splayed. "And that is linked to me through the shadow itself. And outside of the Sisters I only know of two others who can tap it without my assistance."
"Oh?" Zakaro asks. "Who are these two? I may wish to meet them sometime."
Alptraum says, "One is Kaira, the jailor. The other is Vorgulremik, the main prisoner. The latter you can not meet. He is devious, evil, and dangerous."
"Oooo.. and power hungry, perhaps?" Zakaro asks with a wink. "Or perhaps covetous. Jailor and prisoner.. this is related to the exorcism dagger then. The other focal point seems to be the underground chamber on the sky island of Rephidim. We will certainly have to experiment. I want to find out what it takes for your to establish a new territory."
"Why does this interest you so much?" Alptraum inquires. "And yes, extremely power hungry. He has devoured whole worlds."
"Because this ability is not one that the Sister's possess.. or anyone else in this world, I suspect," Zakaro says. "They arise from the Exile nature of your shadow, you experience in other realms, and something else that you add yourself. That means.. well, there should be no way to defend against it, if one had to."
"What are you getting at? How exactly are you wanting me to use this ability?" Alptraum asks, now suspicious. "I've not wanted to use this ability as a weapon. I'm not sure I even can."
"You haven't consciously used it yet," Zakaro claims. "We need to see if you can, and what you can do with it. You should not set aside a tool that could be useful against the General and her legion. Possibly. I really do want to know how it works though."
"So you can duplicate it?" Alptraum inquires.
"No, so I can understand it," Zakaro claims, and boops Alptraum's nose with her finger. "Power.. and knowledge of power.. are my purpose. And Diphath is as much my enemy as yours.. and everyone elses. So I think it would be good to discover what we can about what you can do, don't you think?"
"And if you grow more powerful in the process, bonus?" Alptraum asks, looking a bit amused. "But yes, you are right. Any tool we can leverage is helpful at this point. It's also worrying how, well, quiet the General has been as of late. Probably working out how to kill me."
"You last sent a monster tree to smash her fortress, didn't you?" Zakaro asks. "Perhaps with this ability of yours, you could safely contact her on your terms? We'll have to test with safer subjects first, of course. Without them being asleep and dreaming, preferably. That is a bit of a nuisance."
"Well, a tree went and attacked her fortress, yes," Alptraum admits. "And ugh, that reminds me. I intended to go into the bowels of the tower to learn more about her and her weapons. I completely forgot about that."
Zakaro claps her hands together, causing a spray of milk. "Perfect! We will try that! You've been in there before, after all, and that is most likely important. And it has Sifran crystal intrusions, just like the chamber on Rephidim!"
"How do you know where I have been?" Alptraum has to ask. "I just went through the breeding chambers there when someone tried to trick us into destroying them. They used ... children as unwitting agents. You're thinking of trying to send me there as a dream?"
"Well, I don't think it is a dream, but something physical," Zakaro says. "A.. shadow body or something. We need to figure it out. Then you can try to use it to enter the Tower."
"I intended to go in there for real, though," Alptraum notes. "I can't bring anything out not, well, attached to me if it's the dream-y way."
"Hmmm, that would be useful," Zakaro admits. "I don't know what's changed in the Tower since the Temple took control of it. If they've done anything at all with it, beyond keeping anyone from using it."
"I don't like the Temple controlling it. It belongs to us, the Eeee," Alptraum says, then shrugs. "But then the Temple would also be quite happy to see me dead and gone."
"They have not been active in Babel politics," Zakaro notes. "I suspect Thath made that a condition of turning over the Tower of Babel. So long as we cannot wage war on them, the Temple doesn't care what we do."
"Doesn't matter. It makes us look beaten and under their control. I do not care for them and I do not want them in my city," Alptraum notes a bit harshly. "The tower is our legacy and we have every right to it."
"And what would you do with it?" Zakaro asks, smiling like a cat now. "Is it a symbol, or a tool?"
"Learn more about our past and decipher fact from fiction," Alptraum says and shrugs. "None of that matters, though, as it won't happen."
"For all of Babel's history, different factions have struggled to control the Tower," Zakaro says. "And while I admire power.. I have to admit that Babel would not have made it to the edge of rebirth if the Tower was still something to be fought over."
"There we will disagree, but I am not going to argue the point," Alptraum says and shrugs. "Do you want to use projection to enter it, then, as part of your experiments?"
"If it can be done, it would be an excellent test," Zakaro notes. "And provide knowledge of what's happened in the past year."
"I have no idea how to do it, though," Alptraum admits.
"That's what's so exciting about it!" Zakaro claims, and licks her lips. "We'll figure it out. Something new."
"Or die trying?" Alptraum adds.
"That wouldn't be very productive," Zakaro says, and wags a finger at Alptraum's nose. "The trick is to make your opponent die trying."
"No, but it is always a possibility," Alptraum points out. "I don't try to pretend risks don't exist."
"The point of this exploration is to minimize your exposure to risks where possible," Zakaro claims. "Although.. I don't know if a projection, if that's what it is, is necessarily safer. The tattoos suggest it is not."
"Or it's just my own insanity re-projecting things upon myself that happens to a projection," Alptraum points out. "And they appear only because I really want them to."
"Oooo, that would be useful," Zakaro says. "We must test it! Somehow."
"As if there isn't a hundred other things to do! I still have to deal with your temple, too, as the first new Yodhzakaro," Alptraum points out.
"Yes! That's how we will be testing it all," Zakaro says, clapping her hands again. "After all, Gorphat got you to access your abilities despite your form. So being my Yodhzakaro shouldn't be a hindrance at all."
"Pardon? Please explain?" Alptraum has to ask. "In the form you designed I will be testing this?"
"Of course! Yodhzakaro explore power," Zakaro claims. "So, Yodhzakaro... hmm. I need to give you a name don't I? But, she will be the one to test this ability of yours. I am not one of the Trinity.. I cannot grant you a special form like they can. But I can help you to understand and hone your abilities."
"In Your honor, of course," Alptraum comments, with a bemused sort of smile. "So, the practice will be at Your temple? Is there anyone else still in residence there?"
"A smattering of attendants," Zakaro says. "And.. one Yodh, but she is unable to do much since the Temple attack on us. The others were killed, or fled - you've already dealt with some of those who sought to leave my authority and act on their own."
"Who is this Yodh ... and why cannot she do much? I assume I will be subservient to her?" Alptraum asks.
"Yodhzakaro Censora," Zakaro says.. with a tinge of regret? "She was left behind for the Coalition meeting that was a trap. She is not powerful, and was seriously injured. But she is all that I have left."
"How was she injured?" Alptraum has to ask.
"Her legs were crushed by a collapsing roof," Zakaro says, pulling back slightly and seeming less playful. "Because she was told to guard the treasure vault. And so she stayed there when the temple was bombed, and the others fled."
"Do you want me to try and fix her?" Alptraum asks, quietly. "With Tulani I might be able to."
Zakaro is quiet for a moment. "I don't know," she admits. "If she were restored, she would be at risk again. She is protected now. I am proud of her. You will have to judge for yourself once you get to know her."
"All right," Alptraum says. "I had to ask. It's ... of all the things I can do, it's being able to help people that I'm most proud."
"I will not decide for her," Zakaro says. "She's earned her right to whatever she wants."
"It's ... there's enough horror and sadness in the world. Being able to ease that for someone means a lot," Alptraum says. "It's what got me into all of this mess, really. I wanted to help someone who meant everything to me."
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Zakaro asks, grinning again. "The one thing to save Babel is the spread of altruism. Something that was for so long seen as a weakness here."
"Some people would still claim that it is. But," Alptraum says and shrugs a little. "I'd rather die being someone who cared than rule being someone who didn't."
"Ruling is overrated," Zakaro claims. "The Sabaoth made everyone fight for his favor, but he didn't do very much governing. He made this city cater to him alone, and set the example for others. There shouldn't be many of them left after the executions. For the first time in.. history.. it can truly be said that Babel's enemies are external now."
"Even if we did create them in the first place," the goddess adds.
"I don't think the General qualifies as external," Alptraum points out. "And some day I may even be viewed as an enemy."
"The people who view you as an enemy belong to the old Babel," Zakaro says. "Heroes and villains are.. not so binary here. Thath is feared, and rightly so, but sometimes you need that. A tyrant to restore order, and then step down when the job is done."
"And his son," Alptraum points out. "If people at large knew that..."
"It would fit the narrative for many," Zakaro says. "Thath is like a devil to some. A demon that brought down the Sabaoth and his legacy. For him to be part of Sunala's family would not shock many. Who else could stand with such beings, after all?"
"Fair point, I suppose," Alptraum admits, "And some would be less wanting to assassinate him if they knew I would come for them. But, such should remain as it is, a secret. It would endanger more than help."
"He's survived plenty of assassination plots without divine intervention," Zakaro notes, and grins. "Maybe Sunala does favor him."
"Heh, possibly," Alptraum concedes. "When do you want me to come to your temple?"
"When you're done initiating the new crop of Yodhgorphat," Zakaro says. "Oh, and Yodhmabb now too. Of course Gorphat would be the inclusive one. And the one mage to become a Yodh joins Rephath. Is it me? Am I offputting?"
"I don't know you that well, so I can't really say," Alptraum says quickly. "But that make looks just like Rephath, so it's hardly surprising she would join them."
"And I rather like her, but she's got eyes for a Captain," Alptraum says, "For the best, really."
"And my new Yodh will look like.. well not Inala but one of her more popular High Priestesses," Zakaro notes, then raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Mage Wynona Windcaller.. well, I can see where you two would have some things in common.."
"Oh? And what would those things be?" Alptraum inquires, curious now. "We're just friends. Well, I consider her a friend. I think she just considers me strange."
"Delusions of inadequacy," Zakaro claims. "A strange habit of only focusing on failures while ignoring or downplaying your successes. Or somehow thinking your successes are failures. Of course, she had others reinforcing her delusion. She's actually quite the heroine."
"There is where we differ. I am no hero," Alptraum notes. "I know she is."
"Because you don't want to be?" Zakaro asks. "Or because you don't trust what others see in you?"
"Because I can be selfish, cruel, and angry. I've wanted to hurt people. Not kill, hurt, make suffer," Alptraum points out. "I don't see Wynona having quite the same flaws."
Zakaro chuckles. "My dear nephew," she says, "Being all of that, and still doing your best for others is what makes you a hero. Nobody is without flaw or dark desire. For Wynona, getting up and trying despite her self-doubts and setbacks is what makes her a hero - beyond the actual heroic feats, like.. thwarting a Babelite attack on the docks of Rephidim, for instance. I doubt that is something she mentions to her fellow Yodh though."
"She also chose to not enact revenge on a Barinala for what that Temple did to her," Alptraum points out. "Though, I still had to."
"Did he actually do her wrong?" Zakaro asks.
"Unknown," Alptruam admits.
"So.. if she were sure.." Zakaro suggests, "she might have done something. Maybe. Or not. It's important to keep in your mind what you want to be. It helps you deal with the other things. That's also power."
"Who you want to be ... you do realise you just said that to a shifter who changes who he is regularly," Alptraum points out, then shrugs. "But anyway, I'll try to get to your Temple soon."
"That just means you have more choices to focus on," Zakaro claims, and leans in to kiss Alptraum on the nose. "I'll be waiting for you," she says. "Yodhzakaro Nightmare."
"Heh, that isn't telling at all. I guess it can be claimed to be inspired by the Barsunala," Alptraum agrees. "And, ah, do you mind if I stay in this bath a bit longer? It's much nicer than a slime pool is.
" And I really don't want to go back there quite yet..."